Last weekend, I was at a white elephant party with some of my longest and best friends.
We’ve been doing this for countless years now (maybe close to 20 years!) —the silly gifts, the stealing, the chaos of wrapping paper everywhere. But the part I look forward to most isn’t the gift exchange.
It’s what happens after.
When the wrapping paper is cleared and the living room settles into a warm, wine-soaked quiet, we gather around the table. Six of us. And we have the conversation we wait all year to have.
We reflect on the year that’s passed. And we share our wishes for the year ahead.
I remember the early years of these gatherings.
We were in our thirties, invincible and bold, dreaming big.
Someone would say: “I want to travel to Japan.”
Another: “I want that promotion.”
“I want to buy a house.”
“I want to finally learn to surf.”
Material things. Career milestones. Adventures. Quality time with the people we love.
All beautiful wishes. All worthy.
But this year?
This year was different.
One by one, we went around the table.
And one by one, almost unanimously, we said the same thing:
“I just want to be healthy.”
That’s it.
Not a bigger house. Not a dream vacation. Not even more time with each other (though that’s always implied).
Just health.
The kind of health that lets us wake up without pain. The kind that lets us move freely. The kind that gives us the energy to show up for our lives—and for the people (and pets) we love.
Sitting there, looking around the table at these faces I’ve known for years, I realized what had shifted.
We’re not getting any younger. 😉
We’ve watched friends and family face medical diagnoses that changed everything. Cancer. Chronic pain. Sudden losses that came too soon.
Some of us have endured our own health struggles this year—procedures, medications, the slow realization that our bodies don’t bounce back like they used to.
And somewhere along the way, we stopped taking health for granted.
Because we’ve learned that health isn’t just the absence of disease.
Health is freedom.
Freedom to travel if we want. Freedom to chase those career dreams. Freedom to play with our kids, hike with our dogs, dance in the kitchen, stay up late laughing with the people who matter most.
Health is the foundation that makes everything else possible.
As I sat there listening to my friends share their wishes, I thought about you.
I thought about this community—the pet parents who trust me with their most beloved family members.
And I realized: this is exactly why I do what I do.
Because when your pet is healthy, everything feels lighter.
You’re not consumed by vet visits and worry. You’re not googling symptoms at 2am or wondering if today’s the day things take a turn.
You’re just… present.
Playing fetch. Going on walks. Curling up on the couch together. Feeling grateful for the simple, ordinary, beautiful moments that make life worth living.
And that? That’s everything.
I want this for you.
I want you to have a 2026 where your pet’s health isn’t a source of constant stress.
Where you feel confident in the care you’re providing.
Where you have a partner in your pet’s wellness journey—someone who listens, who collaborates, who sees you and your pet as a whole.
That’s what preventive medicine is really about.
It’s not just about catching disease early (though that matters).
It’s about building a foundation of health so strong that your pet can thrive—not just survive.
So you can spend less time worrying and more time living.
So when you gather with your people around your table this season, you can make wishes about adventures and dreams—because the foundation of health is already there.
What Preventive Health Looks Like at IPWC
At Integrative Pet Wellness Center, we focus on the things that keep pets healthy long-term:
🌿 Microbiome health — the foundation of immunity, digestion, and vitality
🌿 Fresh, whole food nutrition — fueling the body with what it actually needs
🌿 Early detection — catching small issues before they become big problems
🌿 Integrative care — blending the best of conventional and holistic medicine
🌿 Partnership with you — because you know your pet best
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about building resilience. About giving your pet’s body the tools it needs to heal, adapt, and thrive.
Because when your pet is healthy, you get to just… be together.
And that’s the greatest gift of all 💚
My Wish for You
✨ That your pet wakes up every morning with energy and joy
✨ That you feel confident in the care you’re providing
✨ That your vet visits are collaborative, not stressful
✨ That you get to spend more time enjoying your pet and less time worrying
✨ That when you sit around your own table with your people, you feel grateful for the simple, profound gift of health
I’m so honored to be part of your pet’s wellness journey.
I don’t take that trust lightly. And I’m deeply grateful that you’ve invited me into your circle—even if we’ve never sat around a table together (yet 💜).
Send us an email at info@integrativepet.com and tell us: What’s your health wish for your pet in 2026?
I read every response. And I’d love to hear from you 💜
Wishing you and your fur family a season full of health, presence, and the quiet joy of just being together 🎄🐾
With so much gratitude,
Dr. Lily 🦄💜
P.S. That conversation around the table? It reminded me that the best things in life aren’t flashy or complicated.
They’re simple. They’re foundational. They’re the things we don’t appreciate until we almost lose them.
Health. Presence. Love. Time together.
That’s what I’m wishing for you and your pet this Christmas. Not perfection. Just health. Just joy. Just more time. 💚
